Over the Counter Drugs and Other Amazing Reforms of the Latest Italian Government

I've always maintained that if you really want to get a different perspective of the "comforts of home" in the United States, then spend some time in another country. Granted that new perspective of yours may turn out to be positive or negative, but there are a lot of things I think Americans take for granted, that other countries just don't quite embrace.

That was never more evident (to me anyway) than when I read about a series of new reforms being introduced by latest Italian Government - headed by the cherubic Italian politician Romano Prodi. Italy has had about 50 different governments since the Second World War and they have as many or more political parties to boot, so any attempts at change is certainly a challenge. But these reforms seem to be a good thing. A step towards a "free market" in Italy that hasn't really existed up until now.

Some of these sweeping changes seem humorous on the surface, but to many Italian these issues are creating crisis-like paranoia because any change - whether it's good for you or not - is never easy to embrace.

First item on the agenda concerns the sale of some over-the-counter medicines like aspirin. In the US, if you want a bottle of aspirin, you can pick it up at a 7-11. In Italy, you have to go to a Pharmacy. Thanks to Prodi's "liberalizzazoni" (free market) reforms, Italian will be able to pick up some pharmaceutical items at the supermarket or other over-the-counter outlets, and pay a lot less as well. Sounds like a good deal, right? Maybe for the average Italian citizen, but for all members of the Pharmacy Union this is serious business! The result: all pharmacies went on strike as a demonstration of solidarity, while most senior citizens did some serious freaking out because they don't know where to buy their medication!

Next up has to do with bread of all things. In Italy, each city has a limit on the number of bakeries it can support. As a result, you just don't see a lot of new bakeries opening. That kind of puts a clamp on the whole principal of supply and demand and fair competition - if I think I can make the best damn bread in Italy, I should be able to open up a bakery. The worst I can do is fail, right? On the other hand, maybe everyone will notice that my bread is softer or flakier or whatever and I'll become rich and famous. Up until now, you couldn't get permission to open a bakery. Well - maybe you could, if you had the right "connections" but in general, most bakeries have been passed down from generation to generation. Soon, anyone in Italy who wants to bake bread can do so. The result: a whole lot of upset bakers! Hey - I have an idea - let's get all the bakers to strike also! It hasn't happened yet, but I'm it will happen eventually.

The next item has to do with banking. If I remember correctly, the last time I opened an account in the US it was free, and the last time I CLOSED an account in the US it didn't cost me anything either. Not so in Italy! Up until now, if you wanted to close your bank account in Italy because you found a better deal at another bank, you had to "show me the money", pal! You had to PAY a service charge to withdraw your hard-earned savings! That's about to change, and guess what, all the bankers are pissed off! Fortunately, banks can't go on strike, at least I don't think they can - even in Italy. All the more reason for me never to open an Italian bank account.

One of the biggest issues on the reform chopping block involves your average store having a "sale". In Italy, you typically see stores offering items that are marked down 20% or 30% or whatever. However, "marked down" items don't constitute a "sale". There is actually a period when all stores can conduct a sale (usually in late June-early July). But let's say you want to have a sale in September? Up until now, you couldn't do that! Your store could get hit with a hefty fine! You could get sued by another store and accused of unfair trade and marketing! Now however, a store or a boutique can have a "sale" any time they want! This seems silly, because to me, it's just a matter of wording. But I guess to consumers, products just seem more attractive when there is a sale instead of when they are marked down!

There are a lot of other issues being bandied about: permission for stores to stay open during "reposo" from 1:30 until 4:30 in the afternoon so they can cater to tourists or whoever else feels like shopping in stead of sleeping, plus a lot of administrative changes. In general, all these programs are good for the average citizen, but are upsetting the average business person who is feeling like their routines are in a serious "tilt".

The typical tourist probably won't notice any of these changes, nor should they. These and other issues affect people who live in Italy, not visit Italy. Having recounted all this, I can say unequivocally that there ARE lots of great things to be said about living in Italy or Europe in general. But at the same time, these reforms certainly put a new perspective on my rights as an American citizen.

I'll probably go back to the US eventually - family in tow - if for no other reason then to just relish in the joy of buying aspirin at Wal-Mart, purchasing bread at a 7-11, or going shopping anytime I darn well please.